"Upon the Death of Hamlet" by Ryan Opresnik (pg

A Eulogy by Ryan Opresnik

Lords and Ladies of the court, we gather today to honour the former Prince of Denmark: Lord Hamlet. Prior to his all-too-untimely demise, he could be remembered as a jovial, well-to-do youth with a sense of humour to rival that of Yorick. Alas, poor Hamlet! I knew him well. Though his reputation be tainted by feigned madness, rest assured, there was method to it; let it be a tribute to his trickery that no one was the wiser to his true ambition. While the task administered upon him bore prospects ever-bleak, a more loyal man there lives not in this land; for who else would undertake no less than regicide to avenge thine father? Thy name, good Hamlet, will forever go down as the most valiant ever borne of the Danish throne. I consider mineself honoured to be counted among those privileged to know the real Hamlet, and will never know any as deep as he. It is sad to say it, but sometimes sad things are better said than let sail away. Such thoughtfulness was ultimately his undoing. While considering all the possible possibilities, it was plausible that he may have rendered his deed all the more implausible. That is to say, the bloodbath which I was most unfortunate to witness could well have been avoided, had Hamlet merely cut short the hollow hymns of Claudius’ prayer. But no matter! Let such stand as a tribute to thy commitment, Hamlet, and it is ever-fitting that thou should meet thy demise in a duel. To die for something worth fighting for, is all too befitting of thy character. Once a man of inaction, now thou perish amidst too much action; all I hope is that thou mayst find peace with thyself once more, for the time for madness has come and gone, yet unfortunately thou hast gone with it. To reiterate mine last words, I was lucky enough to speak unto thee, “Now cracks a noble heart—Good night, / sweet prince! / And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” (Shakespeare 5.2.357-358).